Shi Lan, without even looking up, had already gotten a full belly. Pan Jinxuan glared at her several times, but she pretended not to see it.
Helpless, Pan Jinxuan could only bury her head in her food and vent her anger on it. But when Shi Lan put down her chopsticks, she realized that in her anger she had forgotten her manners and started behaving recklessly along with Shi Lan.
Pan Jinxuan put down her chopsticks, her face flushed, and cautiously looked up at Caixia, who was waiting to the side.
Caixia quickly turned her eyes away, pretending to look elsewhere.
Pan Jinxuan finally breathed a sigh of relief, and the heat on her face subsided slightly.
After the meal, Caixia led Shilan and the other person aside to drink tea and aid digestion, while the palace maids quietly cleared away the table and other items.
Another half incense stick's time passed, and a high-pitched male voice came from outside, saying that the Imperial Concubine had finished the banquet and was now preparing to return.
Caixia quickly instructed the palace maids to wrap Shi Lan and the other woman up tightly. When she lifted the curtain, she saw a man half-embracing a whisk at the door.
Shi Lan glanced at him and, sure enough, it was Ping An, whom she had seen before.
Ping An bowed to the two men, and after they were called to rise, he turned and led the group forward.
Caixia then asked her who else was by the Empress's side, whether all the ladies of the outer court had returned home, what the Empress ate at the banquet, and so on.
Ping An then said, "There were many people at the banquet. Her Majesty only ate two spoonfuls of shark fin soup and a chopstick of venison, but she drank several cups of wine. When the banquet ended, Her Majesty told everyone else to go home, leaving only the Lady of Pinglin and the Old Madam to talk."
Upon hearing who had been left behind, Caixia instinctively looked at Shilan.
Shi Lan met her gaze calmly, then suddenly revealed a very faint smile.
Caixia was taken aback; this was the first time she had ever seen Shi Lan with such an expression. ...Readers, you can search for "" to find this site immediately.
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